I don't celebrate Halloween...

[Turtle Sensei]

Just thought I'd let everyone know! And I'm wondering if there's anyone else who doesn't celebrate it?

Why don't I celebrate Halloween? I am a Jehovah's Witness and we don't celebrate any holidays based off of Pagan beliefs or holidays.

You can find more information, and much more clearly than a sleepy Turtle can explain, here www.jw.org

If you have any questions for me though, please let me know!

And I am still on Avi sites during the holidays but I mostly collect the items to give to others later.

[Kitalpha Hart]

As I recall you're not one of the nasty ones -stares at local branch-

I don't celebrate it
Mainly cuz we stop celebrating virtually everything after the youngest (in this case, me) hits a certain age
We're down to veteran's day (grandpa's birthday too) and Christmas. Would have easter and thanksgiving on the list but the former was overlooked this year and the latter wasn't really observed last year, past the meat for dinner being turkey rather than ham, pork or beef

[Lemon Cheesecake]

To be honest, we have never "celebrated" Halloween, it has always just been an excuse to play dress up and eat candy and share sweets with the neighbors. As kids our costumes were never "scary" and we never decorated to frighten others. Later local churches started "redeeming" the holiday and offering a fair like atmosphere with games and prizes and dress up, as an alternative instead of the tricking and pranks. An interesting article: http://www.christianpost.com/news/chris ... ys-131471/

Turtle: I respect your commitment to withstand, I have known people that are not Jehovah Witnesses that do not celebrate any holidays at all, even Christmas or Easter because of the original connotations. Some only celebrate Jewish holidays and I am learning that, although I thought it was a page for the history books, "pagan" rituals are still performed.
In the end, we are accountable for our own actions and convictions and must live according to how we will answer on the "day of reckoning".

[Silverfire]

We haven't actually celebrated Halloween around here since I've been too old for a long time and no one wants to cross a swinging bridge for the candy anyway.

Buuut I am trying to observe Samhain this year, which is the actual Pagan holiday of modern Halloween. Figure I could at least try something even if I don't have a lot to work with.

Resident Pagan respects all faith choices, however, and wishes at least a happy new year and safety since it is a rather crazy time of year right now.

[ShiroGEM]

I've never really found the idea of dressing up and getting free candy fun so I stay home and bought myself lots of jelly beans to make up. Halloween was really just everyone trying to see who has the best costume, or who gets the most candy. We celebrate it at my school, but I just go to class in my uniform. C:

I've never knew there were such things as Jehova's Witnesses, thanks for letting me learn something today. :3

[galled]

Sorry if I sound like Bill Clinton, but I guess what matters is what one means by "celebrate." Do I eat candy at Halloween? Yes. Do I only eat candy because it's Halloween? No. Do I trick or treat? No. Do I dress up? No. Do I go to Halloween parties? Depends on who is throwing the party. I don't know whether going to a Halloween party means you celebrate Halloween. I just think it's a party/gathering of friends with a theme, but perhaps it's the details that perhaps determines the label?

[Bassy]

Halloween was originally to celebrate Samhain. They believed that the ghosts from the dead would come and destroy their crops on October 31. They decided to burn their crops at a bon fire and wear animal skins and costumes and tell their stories. This was to protect them from the winter to come. Then the Pope decide November 2nd would be all souls day to honor the dead. Don't think it was pagan. It came to America and became secular (Non realigious) fun for all ages.

But I'm not gonna force you to celebrate halloween. It's what you believe and Im okay with that.

[Vladimir]

This thread is teaching me things I didn't know!
o -o

[Fiel-kun]

Halloween is not also a part of our holiday here in the Philippines but we are free to join and celebrate it if we would want to.

Most of the private companies (specially those who has an American based clients) and shopping malls celebrates Halloween by decorating their places with scary and creepy stuff. They are also holding out a Halloween Party for kids and adults

November 1 is a non-working Holiday here in my country.
This is to give people the time to visit their loved ones in the cemetery who passed on.

[Vladimir]

I love when malls participate in halloween and give out candy to the kids and such! Fun to see kids run around the mall in halloween costumes

[Lemon Cheesecake]

I especially like the after Halloween sales - candy half price, yes!

[Vladimir]

I especially like the after Halloween sales - candy half price, yes!

Oh goodness yes. I work at a grocery store and most customers don't know that the day after halloween the candy goes 50% off! xD

[Lemon Cheesecake]

And if you wait a week or so candy goes to 75% off and then 90% ( but generally all the good stuff is gone by then)

[ShiroGEM]

I sort of want to know how the origin of Halloween came to become a day for children to dress as princesses and eat lollipops but hey it's better than animal skins. xD

[Lianna]

Once upon a time kids dressed up as monsters to keep the real monsters/ghosts away
Then hallmark decided to capitalize on it